Hormones do many things to our body starting before birth and continuing until death and John Kopchick, Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar and Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology, studies the various ways one specific hormone, namely growth hormone (not growth hormones!) affects our body.

Kopchick will explore the misuse and abuse of growth hormone by athletes in hopes of enhancing their performance during his Science Café discussion, "Growth Hormone: Too much or not enough" at 5 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Baker University Center Front Room.

For more than 20 years, his research has focused on finding the clinical implications of growth hormone excess and deficiency. His research on growth hormone and the interaction with its receptor has lead to the development of the drug, Somavert, which is used as a treatment for acromegaly, a condition of 'too much growth hormone' that results in disfigurement, organ failure and premature death.

When asked what he hopes the audience will take away from this discussion, Kopchick said, "a better appreciation of the positives and negative aspects of growth hormone action."

Science Cafés are venues for students interested in the sciences and engineering to informally share their interests during a conversational exchange with faculty, staff and the community in a friendly setting.